Device for automatically replacing an open circuited lamp with a new lamp



R. SEIDLER DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY REPLACING AN OPEN CIRCUI'IED LAMP WITH A NEW LAMP Flled July 6 1964 INVENTOR. 205527' 55/194 62 WfWM United States Patent Giilice 3,308,338 Patented Mar. 7, 1967 3 308 338 DEVICE FOR AUTO MATICALLY REPLACING AN OPEN CIRCUITED LAMP WITH A NEW LAMP Robert Seidler, 356 Mountain Ave., Summit, NJ. 07901 Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 380,423 3 Claims. (Cl. 31589) This invention relates to a lamp changing device for replacing a burned-out lamp with an operable lamp. The invention has particular reference to the automatic positioning of the new lamp in a desired position and means for supplying electrical power to the lamp when it is so positioned.

This invention is directed to a device which can be used in isolated positions and is for signalling and identifying the position of certain objects such as buoys, lighthouses, and other aids to navigation. While electric lamps have been used for this type of service for a number of years, there has always been the problem of filament burn-out and consequent elimination of the signal. Various schemes have been proposed and used for replacing new lamps to take the place of burned-out ones. Generally these arrangements are quite complicated and there is difiiculty in insuring that they will always function properly. The present invention is a simple device which is reliable and can be made automatic in operation. All the lamps are positioned on a single rotating support and power for turning the support is supplied by a spiral spring which is fully enclosed to protect it from the weather. When the device is made automatic, a new lamp is turned into operating position as soon as the oldlamp is burned out. This action proceeds until all the lamps have been used. Any number of lamps may be supported in this manner.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved lamp changing device which avoids one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of prior art arrangements.

Another object of the present invention is to simplify the alignment of a plurality of prefocused lamps in an automatic lamp changer.

Another object of the invention is to lower the resistance of a changeable lamp structure by the use of a broad contact base and a flexible lead-in conductor.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of lamp changing structures by the use of metal stampings and molded plastic parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure which may be automatically controlled by an external control circuit which changes lamps at once when the lamp being used fails.

Still another object of the present invention is to stop the lamp changer after all the lamps have been burned out and to immobilize the signaling means so that the escapement will not be operated.

The invention includes a base for supporting all the lamps and the associated equipment. A rotatable lamp support is mounted on the base and a plurality of flat conductive lamp terminals are mounted on the support for holding all the lamps in a position so that they may be moved to optical alignment when the support is rotated. Each lamp receives current through a resilient conductor which also aids in supporting the lamp in position. The lamp support is rotated by a spiral spring which is coupled between a portion of the base and the lamp support. An escapement means is mounted on the base and is coupled to the rotatable support for releasing the support for rotation. The escapement means is controlled by an electrical transducer which may be connected to a circuit which is operated when a lamp burns out.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the lamp changer showing six lamps in position.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the lamp changer shown in FIGURE 1 but with the lamps removed.

FIGURE 3 is a back view of the lamp changer with the lamps removed.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the lamp changer shown in FIGURE 2 and is taken along line 4-4 of that figure.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of connections showing the lamps, the escapement means, and the solenoi-d.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 4, the lamp changer includes a base 10 which may be supported by a bent-over portion 11. A rotatable lamp support 12 is mounted on the base and turns about fixed axial shaft 13. An insulating hub 14 is also journaled upon the shaft 13. A dielectric spring compartment 15 is secured to the lamp support 12, and carries a plurality of flexible contact springs 17. The lamps are mounted on metal supports 18 which are provided with bent-over portions 18A. The bent-over portions are secured to an escapement wheel 20 which in turn is secured to the spring compartment 15.

Each lamp support 18 is accurately positioned on the escapement wheel 20 and is provided with a keyhole shaped cut-out portion 21 (FIGURE 2) for seating the lamp bases so that the filaments will be in focus when the lamps are moved into their lighted position. The lamps 22 are of the prefocussed type and are provided with a circular base rim 23 which is also one of the electrical terminals of the lamp. When the lamps are seated in the supports most of the upper face of the rims 23 are in contact with a lower portion of the support 18 and for this reason there exists a large area which provides a low resistance contact and a positive positioning bearing surface.

The lamp tips are in contact with the ends of resilient members 17 so that they are held against supports 18 and are always retained in their desired position. All the springs 17 are connected together by nut 24 which is threaded into the end of the shaft 13 traversing spring compartment 16. For additional low resistance conduction, a flexible lead may be joined to the shaft and to all the resilient conductors but this is not always necessary.

In order to light only one lamp at a time, each of the lamp supports is spaced apart from the other supports and is secured to the insulator escapement wheel 20 by bolts 25. The back ends of these bolts are used as contact means for conveying current to the upper lamp. This is done by one or more resilient flat springs 26. FIGURE 3 shows two of these but one would be sufiicient. From the above description it will be obvious that one electrical terminal of the lamp is the base 10 while the other terminal is either end of shaft 13.

FIGURE 4 shows the details of the escapement wheel 20 and its cooperating ratchet 27 or pallet. The pallet 27 is connected to a shaft 28 which runs through the base and is connected to a solenoid 30 mounted on the other side. Any type of solenoid may be used as long as it turns shaft 28 through a small angle when an electrical pulse is applied to the winding. The device shown in FIGURE 5 shows a winding 31, a plunger 32 secured to an arm, and a return spring 33. The escapement wheel 20 is provided with teeth 34 equally spaced around the periphery, each tooth corresponding to a lamp position. When this device is operated, shaft 23 is turned so that one portion of pallet is drawn clear of the tooth and the spring 19 turns the wheel 26 a position of a revolution until the next tooth comes in contact with another portion of the pallet 27A which has been moved into a blocking position. As soon as the current is turned off, spring 53 returns the pallet 27 to its original position and the first extension of the pallet engages the next tooth of the escapement wheel.

FIGURE 5 shows the complete wiring diagram associated with the lamp changing device. A source of electrical power 35 has one of its terminals connected to shaft 13 and all the lamps 22. The other terminal of the power supply is connected through a current sensing circuit 36 and at least one contact arm 26. This contact arm makes successive contact with the lamps as they are rotated into operating position. The second terminal of the power supply is also connected through a switch 37 to the solenoid winding 31 and the other side of the power supply. Switch 37 may be operated by hand but it is desirable to make the lamp changing device automatic and for this reason a current sensing circuit 36 is connected to the switch and each time a lamp burns out, the sensing circuit 36 senses the lack of current and closes switch 37 which then operates the escapement means and moves another lamp into operating position. The details of the sensing circuit are not a part of this invention and will not be described here. A description of such a circuit may be found in U.S. Patent No. 3,027,491, issued March 27, 1962.

It is contemplated that a periodic inspection of such a device will replace all the burned out lamps and that this inspection will take place before all the lamps have been used. However, if all six lamps should burn out before replacement time, an auxiliary contact 40 connected to shaft 13 and one terminal of the power supply, will then make contact with another contact point 41 connected in series with a resistor 42 which has a resistance such that the current sensing circuit becomes inoperative. In this event, current flows from the power supply, through the current sensing device 36, resistor 42, contacts 4140, to shaft 13, and the other side of the power supply. This current retains the escapement solenoid in its unoperating condition because switch 37 is not closed.

When the burned out lamps are replaced by new ones, the operator turns the rotatable support to its original position, thereby winding spring 19 (FIGURE 4) to its starting position.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lamp changing device for replacing a burned out lamp with an operable lamp comprising;

a base for supporting all the lamps and associated equipment;

a rotatable lamp support on the base;

a plurality of flat conductive lamp terminals on the support for holding an operable lamp in a desired position and a plurality of reserve lamps in reserve positions;

a plurality of resilient metal conductors, one for each lamp, also secured to the support for holding the lamps in position and for connecting one terminal of each lamp to a power supply terminal;

a spiral spring coupled between a portion of the base and said rotatable lamp support for turning an operable lamp into position;

an escapement means mounted on the base and coupled to said rotatable support for releasing the support for rotation by said spring;

an electrical transducer for operating the escapement means when a control current pulse is applied thereto;

and electrical contact means mounted on the base disposed for making contact with one of the conductive lamp terminals for lighting the operable lamp When rotated into the desired position and an additional contact means mounted on the rotational support adapted to make contact with a terminal on the base only when all of the lamps have been burned out, said terminal on the base connected to said electrical contact means in series with a resistor for maintaining a current to prevent the operation of the electrical transducer and the escapement means.

2. A lamp changing device as claimed in claim 1 Wherein said electrical transducer is a solenoid with the solenoid plunger coupled to the escapement means.

3. A lamp changing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said escapement means includes a ratchet wheel secured to said lamp support, said ratchet wheel formed with a plurality of teeth on its periphery, one tooth for each lamp position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,054,013 9/1936 Wallace 315-89 X 2,195,374 3/1940 Wallace et al. 31589 X 2,592,165 4/1952 McDermott 31589 2,892,966 6/1959 Smyth 315-89 3,146,375 8/1964 Campbell 31589 JAMES W. LAWRENCE, Primary Examiner.

C. R. CAMPBELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LAMP CHANGING DEVICE FOR REPLACING A BURNED OUT LAMP WITH AN OPERABLE LAMP COMPRISING; A BASE FOR SUPPORTING ALL THE LAMPS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT; A ROTATABLE LAMP SUPPORT ON THE BASE; A PLURALITY OF FLAT CONDUCTIVE LAMP TERMINALS ON THE SUPPORT FOR HOLDING AN OPERABLE LAMP IN A DESIRED POSITION AND A PLURALITY OF RESERVE LAMPS IN RESERVE POSITIONS; A PLURALITY OF RESILIENT METAL CONDUCTORS, ONE FOR EACH LAMP, ALSO SECURED TO THE SUPPORT FOR HOLDING THE LAMPS IN POSITION AND FOR CONNECTING ONE TERMINAL OF EACH LAMP TO A POWER SUPPLY TERMINAL; A SPIRAL SPRING COUPLED BETWEEN A PORTION OF THE BASE AND SAID ROTATABLE LAMP SUPPORT FOR TURNING AN OPERABLE LAMP INTO POSITION; AN ESCAPEMENT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE BASE AND COUPLED TO SAID ROTATABLE SUPPORT FOR RELEASING THE SUPPORT FOR ROTATION BY SAID SPRING; AN ELECTRICAL TRANSDUCER FOR OPERATING THE ESCAPEMENT MEANS WHEN A CONTROL CURRENT PULSE IS APPLIED THERETO; AND ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE BASE DISPOSED FOR MAKING CONTACT WITH ONE OF THE CONDUCTIVE LAMP TERMINALS FOR LIGHTING THE OPERABLE LAMP WHEN ROTATED INTO THE DESIRED POSITION AND AN ADDITIONAL CONTACT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE ROTATIONAL SUPPORT ADAPTED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH A TERMINAL ON THE BASE ONLY WHEN ALL OF THE LAMPS HAVE BEEN BURNED OUT, SAID TERMINAL ON THE BASE CONNECTED TO SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS IN SERIES WITH A RESISTOR FOR MAINTAINING A CURRENT TO PREVENT THE OPERATION OF THE ELECTRICAL TRANSDUCER AND THE ESCAPEMENT MEANS. 